Ministers of Jesus Christ Church of The Lord Jesus Christ Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith Atlanta, Georgia - USA Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer

Date: June 21, 2020

To all the Saints of God,

Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World.  As this Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God that we are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health and governmental authorities for the safety of all people. 

"In accordance with Georgia Governor executive orders in the United States of America, we continue to strongly encourage all Georgians and visitors to wear face coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get tested with or without symptoms.

     To accommodate all Saints, we are continuing with these scheduled in-person services wearing the recommended personal protective equipment:

on Sunday June 21, 2020 Brothers Department meeting and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm,

on Sunday June 28, 2020 Youth Department meeting and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm,

on Sunday July 5, 2020 Executive Board meetings and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. 

on Today Sunday July 12, 2020 Sisters Department meeting and Church Services from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm,

All services will take place on Sundays only from 11am until 2pm to allow for proper cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces. No night services during the week due disinfection procedures. Baptism, pray and tarrying service, will continue each Sunday following all safety protocols including the use of personal protective equipment and body temperature checks.  

     As we obey the Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will continue to hear our prayers and provide a way for us through these uncertain times.

Romans 13:2-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

TITUS 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.  
    

This week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:

The Prayer for the Forgiveness of others… Part 2

      To all those who are celebrating Father’s Day, we sincerely hope that you have a joyous time during your planned occasion in honoring your father or the father figure of your life. Many families will gather today to celebrate the father figures that embodies the expansion and head of the family, their primary provider, protector, disciplinary and linage name in their lives. In most cultures, fathers are regarded as secondary caregivers, but more fathers are becoming primary caregivers, when mothers go to work or in single parenting situations. As my natural father said to me, when I married my wife, “You will have take things that you would not normally take, put up with things that you would not usually put up with on the job and throughout daily life to provide for your family and be a good father.”  For all the days that you endured the pains, hardships, lonely hours, and tears to continue producing seed in the world, we say to all the fathers of the world, thank you for your unselfish loving care and keep up the good work.

GENESIS 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

EPHESIANS 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

      Many people today, perhaps most of the young Saints today are unaware the period when Apostle Shelton, who was a spiritual father figure to us, took us out of the schisms and isms that separated and divided many of the local Churches.  To do so, he had to take charge, and magnify the Apostleship given to him, yet pray for the forgiveness of those who lacked understanding. The following sermon is a continuation of one of the teaching he preached as he led us on the right path.

WHEN HE PRAYED HIS LAST PRAYER Continued…

By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton

*****His prayer in Gethsemane, which is famous to most people and particularly around this season as we are making this broadcast, 'not as I will, but thy will be done.' He surrenders His will and they think that this is around the time He did it. They think everything but the right thing. He wanted the cup to pass when he said to 'remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not as I will but thy will be done.'  And do you not know that when He surrendered the will of the flesh, an angel appeared and strengthened Him?

     When you surrender your will and when you give over and do not have your way, God will give you strength and grace to go through things you never believed you could endure. You can endure when God helps you. You can know someone is trying to go with your husband or going with him and you can see them sitting or talking and transacting business. Then you have to transact business with this person, but you still be kind. You set yourself that you are going to show Christ or be like Jesus.

'Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.' You say, I am going to kill this devil. It is going to almost kill you while you are killing it, but you show Christ. Oh, it takes a whole lot of praying, before you get to your last prayer, to pray that kind of prayer. The prayer for the forgiveness of others.  Oh, this does not happen every day and when it does, it is a great testimony, particularly when you can hold to it. Many have started out to say these nice things.  When you must nurse someone who you know has been doing you wrong when your missionary duty calls for you to go and nurse them back to health, you feel like you could just take the pillow and put it over them, but you do not. You lift up the head and take the spoon with soup and feed them.  See, you have prayed up and you never even mentioned it, though a fire is musing and boiling in your bones.  But you blow the soup so it will not scorch them. You have been praying and you have grace or undeserved favor towards them. You have fasted and learned discipline. You wait until the right time, until they get back on their feet and are healthy, then go to them in the right way. You do not want to start confusion right there in the sickroom.

     Do not tell us what you would not do. We have patience with folks when they lose their tempers nowadays.  As we are getting older, we are getting a better understanding of it.  People will put you through the mill. They are worse now than they have ever been.  May they be reminded that your name is not Jesus Christ, that each Saint is growing, or are going on to perfection to be like Him. Though we are like Him, we are like him in ways that you do not like. We are like Him in the way that he beat them out the temple and do not forget that. We are also like Him when he suffered little children to come unto Him and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven. He was not always doing that, you know. We told the saints at Headquarters that, in God, there is a lion and there is a lamb and we are in His stead. If you have ever seen a lion, he is very large and a Iamb is small. There is only a little of the lamb, but there is a whole lot of a lion. You like lamb, but you are going to get lion. More lion than lamb. If you get lamb once a year or every three months, you are blessed.  It is more lion to go around than lamb.

     So, Jesus prayed on the cross. They got Him out of Gethsemane.  After praying for His cup to pass and instead of its passing, they tried to lay hands on Him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

LUKE 22:39 - 46 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.  And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

He comes to His last prayer on the cross. Find us another prayer after this one—His last prayer. His prayer ended with His sonship.  Did you not know that?  If you did not, you should have.

LUKE 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots.

     See, He had to stop praying these kinds of prayers because there was someone over this flesh and He was the very God or because the one over his flesh was God almighty. He was going to be beholding to something He could not get, and He could not be God and do that. He was showing an example so the flesh would pray as flesh does pray to the Spirit.  In other words, this was God's flesh.  God became flesh.  Then his corporal body had to pray to the Spirit that covered the heaven and earth. The same spirit was in this body and that spirit had to leave this body so that it could die, and it only prayed and only had the body for an example.  

     What did He have to pray for when he prayed His last prayer?  "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) You know it is a beautiful thing to know the scriptures. We do know what we are doing, for if we did not know what we are doing, then we would have read something which was absolutely not in the passage. We do know what we do, and we thank the Lord for that too. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots. (Luke 23:34) They made a gambling game out of it. 

Luke 23 :35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

     He was our example and He could have destroyed the world at His going out if He had had vengeance in his heart, but there was no guile in Him.

1PETER 2:21 -25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:   Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

     He did no sin even after all of that.  In other words, He was not going to be bitter with all the things they had done to Him. But God had to pray His last prayer. 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.'  When they tried to judge us or compare us with someone else, 'Father, forgive them.' ( Here Apostle Shelton is speaking of those who try to compare him with Bishop Johnson and there are those with the audacity to do the same comparison today)

For if they were honest, they would know we are not a whit behind the chief; Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. They say they are praying for someone to come back ( here Apostle Shelton speaks about those who were praying for Bishop Johnson to arise from the dead and to return to overseeing the Church, many of whom had the audacity to say that the Church was false because Apostle Shelton had become the Bishop.  We have witnessed this terrible untrue statement in our travels among the Churches) but yet they say the Church is false and in error. Do they want the one to come back to a false church? If he is coming back to a false church, then that would make him a false prophet.  

     Father forgive them for they know not what they do. If they knew what they did, Father, they would know now that once any preacher or apostle has ever died, there is no record of anyone ever arising from the grave and coming back, preaching and staying again—no place in the Bible other than Jesus showing Himself with many infallible proofs that we would believe. He died and rose again, and He did not come back to take over the Church on earth for He had given charge of that to our brother, Peter. He was going to go back to the heavens where He belonged and leave Peter the earth alone until they called for Him and needed His services.  Anyone else who gets up from the grave had better do likewise or they will hear from us and we will send them back to the grave from whence they cometh. Do not bother us or you will have to die again. It would not take Jesus all this time if He has any purpose in raising the dead, if that was going to be His will. He had shown His will a long time ago. There is no need to keep the band playing and those who were long time dead and appeared in the city never came back and preached a message or cried out behold, sin.  Let us follow the scripture.  Father forgive them.  Let the dead bury their dead.  

Here Apostle Shelton emphasizes that Bishop Johnson was deceased and would not rise again to take over the Church as some were actually praying would happen. And their prayer was never answered by God Almighty.  There are local Churches even today during this pandemic that say Bishop Johnson is the Chief Elder or overseer in their church when his body has been in the grave for nearly 60 years.  Most of the children who continue this falseness were deceived by those before them.  This proves that false, dishonest people are among the body of Christ as Apostle Peter said that they would be.  God can raise anyone from the dead if he choose too for which I am a witness, but he did not send back Apostle Peter from the grave to take over the Church during the dark ages, he chose other men already alive to continue preaching the gospel.

     What did we say the year of 1972 was?  The year of the change, the year the change came. We are not interested in what anyone said, did or believed. We are only worried about Jesus and ourselves. We are the one in authority here. If you are worried about it that is your affairs for there is but one. Bishop in this Church. It is one authority here; it is what we say and no one else. You may as well get yourself adjusted. If you do not want this one, make yourself whatever arrangements you can make, for there is only one here now.
   (Here Apostle Shelton is speaking of the general overseer not the eldership, for there were other elders in the Church at that time who preached the same thing under the oversight of Apostle Shelton. This is the reason why you must be able to distinguish between the organizations and administrations within the Body of Christ or some ambitious man will say he is the only preacher in the world.)

We shall rule and reign as long as we are here. If you want us, then you will stay and if you do not, then fare ye well. We are talking about the facts our brother; then we do not have any brothers. Because to have a brother, we would have to have an equal and we have not found one. We only have sons and daughters and sons are never equal to their father neither daughters to their fathers. All our brothers are dead and if they want to be alive, they had better see us first. We are the man with the keys. If they come in here now, they are coming under our jurisdiction and our territory. We are their boss if they come here now.  All that ism, you may as well kill it now. Folks will say 'I'll suffer it.' We do not want you suffering this. No, no! The Bible says, 'I was glad when they said unto me.' Now if you have any suffering when they said unto YOU, then we want to squeeze that pimple until it burst! We are doing house cleaning now because you are not right. We kill everything. We do not come to you with all this pretty speech. We put everything to death and death is not pretty. You will never forget it. Who has given you a key to cry aloud and spare not?  That is what we are doing when we are saying it and making it plain. You will try to change it around. But Father forgive them.

     We forbid what the Bible forbids, the excess drinking of strong drinks causing drunkenness. We warn you against the drinking of stimulant drinks. We do just like the Bible says. We warn you against them. If you drink them, then we will say why destroy yourself before time, like the Bible says. Not ism, like the Bible says.

For those unfamiliar with the word or suffix ism, it usually refers to popular public religious opinion. Ism is a suffix in many English words, which means "taking side with" or "imitation of”, philosophies, theories, religions, social movements, artistic movements, and behaviors formed by public opinion regarding specific ideologies. One example would be pacifism in which many Churches stood against bearing arms and as a result the Saints could not be elected as governors, mayors, sheriffs and many other political offices because of the requirement for armed police officers based on the erroneous interpretation of the six commandment thou shall not kill.  This led some into further deception teaching the people of God not to vote or own property which created many of the disparities and poverty seen in many nations around the world today.

      But we have not read where there is any doctrine concerning coffee. The only doctrine against coffee would be whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven! (See Matthew 16:19) In case you have not heard there happens to be a new looser and a new binder. We would advise you to ask us what we are losing and binding today. We are Your Eminence, the Looser and Binder. That is the principle of the same thing, which was loosed and bound, but give us the courtesy to ask us what we are loosing and binding today. Do not try to bind us with that which was loosed. You will make us think something was wrong when Paul said to. Timothy to drink a little wine and Bishop Johnson came along and said do not drink any wine. Now was there conflict when Paul had as much authority as Bishop Johnson ever had? But in his day, Bishop Johnson was the looser and the binder, and he said no.

      We tell you those things to upset your nerves. We want to keep you upset and give you no rest day nor night till you come to the unity of the faith because we prayed that you all be one and we want you to be one on the Bible.

   JOHN 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

     Any rule this Church has that is not written in the doctrine of this Church can be changed at a moment’s notice. Does not our own discipline say that?

    What cannot be changed is the doctrine and if you do not know the difference between the doctrine and the rules of this Church, please ask us. But the rules have ever been this way. If you ask anybody about the Apostolic Faith and what they believe, they first talk about the rules.  They might mention water baptism, but seldom even get to that.

     They talk about the outside trappings of the Apostolic Faith. If you have just arrived, be patient. We were the Whole Truth before you got those long black dresses. Did you know that? We mean we were the Whole Truth when we were drinking coffee by the big pots being brewed in the Church, and we were condemning everything else saying it was false and they were going to hell.  Coffee does not make us Apostolic, or the lack of it. A rule on coffee was added to the Church by Apostolic command, seeing a necessity because some had based a dependency on this stimulant. They loved it almost as much as a narcotic.  It is not a narcotic, nor did it replace the drinking of alcohol.  They wanted it all the time. Anything you want, (we do not care what it is) if you just want it and it is so important to you; it should be taken from you.

     Let us tell you one thing, we have been in more Christmas plays. Where? Here. And more Easter plays.  Where? Here. What you have on today does not make you Apostolic. Modest apparel does, for we have always had modest apparel. See you do not know what you are talking about and those who should know are willingly ignorant. Father forgive them. For some of them, you have to say Father forgive them because they know what they do. They know better than to go to their daughter's house who has a second companion living in adultery, sitting up there eating with them. The Bible says, 'partaking of their evil deed.' They are going to be up there with those adulterous folks all year round so much so until the adulterous companion said they get on his nerves coming to his house all the time. We wonder which Bishop ever preached that you should visit your adulterous folks. We cannot go in an adulterous house or sit at the table. If you have somebody in there we must stand outside and ring the bell and ask them would you please come out. We cannot bid them in our house together. One has to come at a time. The Bible said do not bid them in your house and do not bid them Godspeed.  The only person you can have in your house (if you have a son) is your son and his first legal wife, not that second one.

     See this is not a nice church.  We are terrible! We will stand right up at the door and you are out in the snow and we will say no she cannot come in. Those who are suppose to be in the Church when they act up, we are going to put them out. If they say they are going to do right and repent, let them come back in. Just give them a moving van for business. Father, forgive them. What time do you put them out? Anytime, Everyday, all day, all night.  See, that little nice religion that you have in you needs to be cut out before you pray your last prayer; that little religiousness that you learned in that false church. Not only are we good, we are past good. We are perfect and those who are not yet perfect are going on to perfection. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Even if you felt that we were wrong, the Bible says it is written, thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people! If people condemn us, it is a shame because we are Apostolic. We have always heard from the day that we could hear and discern that our doctrine was based only on the Bible and if you could not find it in the Bible forget it. We were born and reared to believe that. We never belonged to any other church and we never had any other pastor but one.

     We were always taught to search the scriptures and if you could not find it, keep on walking and that is just what we have been doing. Paul said 'I say unto you.' But the one who is here now sayeth unto you, you better not bother with what we say if you want to stay in here. We say that unto you. Do you think we would want you to be lost? We want you to be saved. We are not going to tell you anything that is contrary to the Apostle's Doctrine. It is the principle of the thing. They claim they are going to do all Bishop Johnson said do, but it is nothing but a conversation.

     Father forgive him, forgive them. They are all bastards because they have no father, they are spiritually illegitimate bastards. The Bible says if ye receive reproof ye are sons, but if you do not you are bastards and not sons, and that is what they are.

Here, Apostle Shelton uses harsh language to open the eyes of the people to follow the truth.  Yet after all his efforts some continue to choose to follow falseness.

HEBREWS 12:7 – 11 HEB12:07 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?   But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

     See, we suffer many things until people wear our patience and try to show us so much piousness. We would be happy if you did all that had been preached to you when Bishop Johnson was alive. We would say at last before you prayed your last prayer, you finally came up to the Word.  That would be beautiful. For He prayed His prayer, what will your last prayer be? Forgive them or blow them all up. What will your last prayer be when you die? Will you say Lord do not let my wife (who I am leaving behind) enjoy anything I leave and let my spirit roam through the house on every stormy night, and when she looks into the mirror, let her see my outline or will it be Father, forgive them? We are weary of life and the battle is won and the future is only by faith; but somehow as we go out, there seems to be a brighter light ahead of us, a pathway that looks like a perfect day and yes it is. Why? Because we will have prayed our last prayer and when He comes to take away His Church, when He calls and says arise my love and come away, whether we be standing or whether we be sleep; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we are going to be caught up to meet Him in the air. When we have prayed our last prayer, we are going to be in the feast. For when he had prayed his last prayer, He was taken up to heaven.  When you have prayed your last prayer where will you go? He prayed His last prayer and was taken up into heaven.

As we said before, without understanding the result can lead to teaching for doctrine the commandments of men to uphold communal traditions and religious showmanship to set up our own way of holiness.  Many times, rules in the Church were not based on actual biblical references but the judgement or assessment of the community’s reaction to items of lust or habit like coffee, tea, over the counter medicines and modern technology inventions like television, computers, movie theaters  etc.. Religious showmanship indicates catering to the reaction or demands of specific opinions prominent in the public at large to look pious, and maintain what the public calls a holy appearance in the eyes of the majority.

MARK 7:14 - 23 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.  And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

MAT15:7 - 11 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

     As you can now clearly see, many of the rules that some apply to what they call holiness were done away with over 28 years ago by Apostle Shelton to take the Church out of many schismatic  doctrines that came about to uphold communal traditions to appease crowds for religious showmanship or misunderstanding of many modern items and technology. Many of the local Churches are just now beginning to overcome these traditions and opinions. Pray for the forgiveness of all who lack understanding and that all may grow and come to the Unity of the Faith  and that our rules only reflect what the bible actually teaches.
     May the Lord Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will, may he open your understanding that you will come to know that you must repent of your sins and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, then continue in prayer until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.  That you will leave the principles of the doctrine and go on to perfection overcoming the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine remembering always that he that endures until the End, the same shall be saved. Amen

With perfect love,
Apostle Dennis G. Smith

Guide to Church Meetings during this coronavirus pandemic

Please be aware that if someone infected with coronavirus comes into the Church building it may contain infection for 72 hours afterwards unless cleaning is carried out.  Remember that the Church building is being accessed by other people undertaking essential work such as construction contractors, cleaning and maintenance personnel so that the proper safety protocols must be followed such as social distancing, and the use of personal protective equipment such as mask, gloves, and possibly face shields.  Because of the risk of infection, it is best that you get tested for the virus to protect yourself and others before attending a small meeting of 25 or less people as the restrictions are lifted.

     If multiple people are entering the building, even one at a time they must  maintain  the six feet apart  social distancing recommendations.
All individuals entering the building must be warned of the risks to their lives should someone enter not following safety protocols calling reckless endangerment to others as faith in God which is absolute foolishness.   A record of who goes in the building and when will be kept with proper regard for the risk of transmission. A supply of hand sanitizer, mask, and gloves will be kept with the record near the main entrance to the church. It is best for people to bring their own pens to use or wear gloves when touching all surfaces including Bibles.  A record of who is in the building and when will be maintained so that if there is an incident at the Church it will be clear who was the last person known to have been in the building.  Do not listen to those who call safety guidelines lack of faith or who have a poor understanding of the doctrine on fear. Fear is only detrimental to your soul when you are afraid to live a holy life because of what people will say or do to you, or you have no reverence and love for the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty.

 What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.

Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings.

All people should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk.

Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.

When to Wear a Mask?

Those who are staying home and have no close contacts who are infected with COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a nonmedical or homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for certain populations.

•          Shopping at essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies.

•          While visiting your health care provider.

•          Traveling on public transportation.

•          Interacting with customers/clients at essential businesses.

•          When feeling sick, coughing, or sneezing.

Because homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks when leaving their homes.

This helps prevent those who may be infectious but are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to others in the community.

Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.” By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their coughs, sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall spread of the virus.